Parkersburg in Wood County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Peter G. Van Winkle
Born in New York, 1808, he moved to Wood County in 1835 and practiced law. Was officer of Northwestern Virginia Railroad and delegate to Virginia constitutional convention, 1850-51. Delegate to Wheeling and constitutional conventions during war, he was elected one of the new states first U.S. senators, 1863. He opposed impeachment of Andrew Johnson in 1868. Died in 1872.
Erected 2016 by West Virginia Archives and History.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #17 Andrew Johnson, and the West Virginia Archives and History series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.
Location. 39° 16.365′ N, 81° 33.34′ W. Marker is in Parkersburg, West Virginia, in Wood County. It is at the intersection of Ann Street and 12th Street, on the left when traveling north on Ann Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1209 Ann St, Parkersburg WV 26101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s Mid-Ohio Valley. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France and also the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Vanwinkle-Herceg House (within shouting distance of this marker); Amiss-McCrary House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Julia-Ann Square Historic District (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Julia-Ann Square Historic District (about 300 feet away); Casto-Douglas-Longacre-Harris House (about 500 feet away); Lamp house (about 600 feet away); Kahn-Vaughan-Atkinson House (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Julia-Ann Square Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Parkersburg.
Regarding Peter G. Van Winkle. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad purchased the Northwestern Virginia Railroad in 1864.
Also see . . . Peter G. Van Winkle. Wikipedia entry:
During President Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial, Van Winkle broke party ranks, along with nine other Republican senators and voted for acquittal. These 10 Republican senators were disturbed by how the proceedings had been manipulated in order to give a one-sided presentation of the evidence. (Submitted on October 3, 2018.)
Additional keywords. North Western Virginia Railroad

Sketch by Joseph H. Diss Debar, via Wikipedia Commons, 1872
4. Sketch of Peter G. Van Winkle
The caption read: “Hon. Peter G. Van Winkle, a lawyer, now literary student; member of the Constitutional Convention of West Virginia; of the first House of Delegates, and one of the first two U. S. senators for the new state. The sketch was made during the Senator's last illness which carried him off in April 1872. His companion is Prof. John C. Nash, a well known educator who occasionally called there for a literary chat. Mr. Van Winkle was a native of Paterson, New Jersey, and a cousin of Parke Godwin on his mother's side. The lady in the picture on the wall is his wife, Juliette, nee Rathbone, who had died early in the forties.”
Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 532 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 3, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.


